Self-reported and Experimental Pain in Patients Undergoing Orthodontic Treatment

Midwestern University38 enrolled

Overview

Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) is defined as the minimum force applied to an area that is perceived as pain. PPT is considered an objective measurement tool to assess pain levels. Studies have assessed the difference in pain levels between clear aligners and fixed appliances using subjective pain scales. No study has utilized PPT to evaluate the difference in pain between aligners and fixed braces at different time points. This study will aim to compare the self- reported and experimental pain perception between the clear aligner and fixed appliance therapies during the phase of crown alignment and to assess how long pain is perceived in the following five days from the adjustment of the appliance.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Pain

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 14 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * consecutive consented patients (\> 14 years old) beginning an orthodontic treatment on both arches, either with aligners or fixed appliance at the Midwestern University, Multidisciplinary Clinic; * patients in possession of an email address and Internet connection. Exclusion Criteria: * patients with generalized systemic conditions known to affect the overall body pain and pressure pain threshold assessment (e.g., fibromyalgia, autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis), * untreated dental caries.

Locations (1)

Midwestern University

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Self-reported pain intensity

Self-reported pain will be assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale with anchors from 0 (=no pain) to 10 (=worst imaginable pain)

Time frame: At three timepoints through study completion: at baseline, at 4-6 weeks, and at 8-12 weeks

Pressure Pain Threshold

Pressure Pain Threshold will be measured through an algometer on masseter and temporals muscles

Time frame: At three timepoints through study completion: at baseline, at 4-6 weeks, and at 8-12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Anxiety and depression symptoms

Self-perceived anxiety and depression measured through the Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-4 (from 0 to 12, with higher score identifying higher anxiety and depression)

Time frame: At two timepoints through study completion: at baseline, and at 8-12 weeks

Pain catastrophizing

Self-reported pain catastrophizing measured trough Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS (from 0 to 52, with values \>30 identifying clinically meaningful pain catastrophizing)

Time frame: At two timepoints through study completion: at baseline, and at 8-12 weeks

Past pain experience

Semi-structural interview through questionnaire

Time frame: At T0: Baseline (pre-intervention)